As tangata whenua, New Zealand’s indigenous population, Maori people occupy a unique place in our society. They are a proud people with a tradition of focusing on community gain rather than individual.

Much in the Maori world can be traced and explained through whakapapa (genealogy) and turangawaewae (place of belonging/spiritual home). It is common for Maori to introduce themselves by identifying the geographic landmarks unique to their tribe and by referring to their ancestors. For Maori, the two worlds – spiritual and material – are closely linked. All activities in the everyday world come under the influence of wairua (spirituality).

It has also been said that while English speakers view the future as being in front of them, Maori are a people who think of the past as being in front of them. The stability and identity of Maori is grounded in where they have come from, looking to history to interpret the new.

PopulationThe 2001 census showed that one in seven people (586,000) in New Zealand were of Maori ethnicity and by 2021 New Zealand's Maori population is projected to reach 749,000. Maori people live throughout New Zealand, but most are concentrated in the northern regions of New Zealand: Northland, Auckland, Waikato and theBay of Plenty.

Everyday lifeMaori people will often shake hands and kiss when they meet. When Maori men shake hands with women their handshake is usually gentle. It is not necessary to hongi (press noses once or twice) when you meet and greet a Maori friend in the street. The hongi is customarily reserved for more formal occasions, or at times when you meet someone new or someone you haven’t seen for a while.

The traditional Maori hangi, where food is cooked on hot stones in the ground, is still common. It is often put down for special ceremonies and when catering for a crowd. When visiting Maori homes it is usual to remove shoes before going inside. It is considered impolite to sit on tables or bench tops – places where food is prepared or placed. The head is considered a sacred part of the body and shouldn’t be touched.

Te ao Maori – The world of Maori

Te reo – The languageUnder the Treaty of Waitangi, te reo is considered one of the taonga (treasures) of Maori and is guaranteed protection. The 1987 Maori Language Act declared Maori an official language of New Zealand and established the Maori Language Commission.

Maori was the main spoken language in 1840 and it remained strong for almost another hundred years. Although from the 19th century Maori was discouraged in most schools, its rapid decline began during and after World War Two when Maori moved to towns and cities in large numbers looking for work.

Separating Maori from their language and traditional culture affected their sense of status and ability to fully decide their future. So, for many today, speaking Maori is much more than keeping a unique language alive. It’s a powerful way to rebuild self-image implicit in language and culture in the Maori community.

There were several initiatives to revive the Maori language with the first strong push starting in the 1960s. The first te kohanga reo (language nest) opened in 1982 and more followed. They are like Maori kindergartens that encourage and teach Maori language and knowledge to Maori infants.

New Zealand Maori is most closely related to languages such as Cook Islands Maori, Tahitian and Hawai'ian. It is more distantly related to other languages of Polynesia, such as Samoan and Tongan.

SoundsThe Maori alphabet has five vowels. Vowel sounds are regular and may be either short or long. A little line (macron) above some vowels indicates a longer vowel sound. Sometimes writers will double the vowel instead of using a macron to indicate the long vowel. The longer vowel sounds are pronounced as follows: a in ‘far’; e as in ‘measure’; ı as in ‘fee’; o as in ‘awe’; and u as in ‘rude’.

There are eight consonants (h, k, m, n, p, r, t, w,), and two sounds where two letters together represent one sound; wh and ng. Wh is close to the f sound in ‘father’. Ng is pronounced like the ng in the word 'singer'.

Numbers0 kore1 tahi2 rua3 toru4 wha5 rima6 ono7 whitu8 waru9 iwa10 tekau11 tekau ma tahi (ma: and)12 tekau ma rua20 rua tekau100 kotahi rau

Common words and phrasesTena koe Greetings (one person)Tena korua Greetings (two people)Tena koutou Greetings (several people)Haere mai Welcome/Come hereKia ora Hello/ThanksKei te pehea koe? How are you?Kei te pai I am wellHaere ra Goodbye (to someone leaving)E noho ra Goodbye (by those leaving)Ka kite See you laterKia kaha Be strongKa pai Well doneMana RespectKoha GiftAroha LoveWhanau FamilyTamariki ChildrenTupuna AncestorTane ManWahine Woman Pakeha European New ZealanderHui MeetingWharenui Meeting houseWhare kai Dining roomHaere mai ki te kai Come and eatHangi Earth oven and the food cooked in itKai FoodKai moana Sea food Puku Stomach

© 2004 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ESOL HOME TUTOR SCHEMES (INC). PO Box 12-114, Wellington 6038, New Zealand. Ph 64-4 471 2382, Fax 64-4 471 2383, Email: natoffice@esolht.org.nz

MaraeAs you travel throughout the country you are likely to see many marae. These community complexes are a focal point where Maori meet, discuss and debate matters of importance, celebrate the living, and farewell their dead. It is on the marae that Maori is predominantly spoken.

There are more than a thousand marae throughout New Zealand. Some can be found in the hearts of cities – a vital meeting place for urban Maori. Rural marae usually occupy more land. There will be a big open space at the front and several buildings, often equipped to cater to and accommodate several hundred people. The main building is the wharenui, (meeting house) which may be used for hui (meetings), sleeping and celebrations such as weddings, and tangihanga (funerals).

There is a specific order of ceremony when visiting a marae, the order differing from one tribal area to another. The difference lies mainly in the order of speechmaking. Some marae practise paeke where tangata whenua (hosts) speak first, others practise taututu, where speeches alternate between tangata whenua and visitors.

Visitors always wait at the entrance until the kuia (older women) of the tangata whenua karanga (call) the visitors onto the marae.

Speeches of welcome and mihi (greeting) from the tangata whenua come first. The mihi has a particular format where the speaker will talk about: •The land •The reason for gathering•The buildings •The ancestors and the dead•The living

Speeches may alternate between manuhiri (visitors) and tangata whenua (i.e. taututu) and are usually followed by a waiata (song/chant) that complements the words spoken and shows unity. The last manuhiri speaker places koha (a donation/ ‘give what you can’) on the floor or ground equidistant between the two groups. The koha is a gift or reciprocation of aroha (love) and is an important concept, essential to total well-being of the people. Then comes the hariru (handshake) and hongi. Sometimes foreheads will touch.

TangihangaThe word tangi expresses the shedding of tears during a loss. Tangihanga encompasses the

mourning rituals, the expression and sharing of grief. During the three days of mourning, visitors are welcomed onto the marae in the traditional way and eulogies refer to whakapapa, the spirit ‘going back to Hawaiiki’; the mythical homeland of Maori.

HakaThe haka is a dance and chant usually performed by men. It was part of the Maori warrior's conditioning for war and battle. In pre-European times there were many kinds of haka: for amusement, for welcoming visitors, and war dances. Over the years the haka has been adopted by sections of the military and by sports teams. It is often used on formal occasions to welcome or farewell.

Dominion Post Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ

Maori and the landTraditionally, Maori see themselves as guardians of the land. This concept has given rise to conflict between Maori and other New Zealanders.

Kaitiakitanga (guardianship) implies an obligation and responsibility for tangata whenua to be custodians, protectors and guardians of tribal interests, its taonga (treasures) and the resources it owns or has responsibility for. When a rahui (restriction) is placed upon a river, lake, forest or harbour, this bans people from using some resources. For example, a rahui might ban people from gathering shellfish at a beach. Many Maori tribes use the practice of rahui to conserve or replenish a resource.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi – Treaty of WaitangiThe Treaty of Waitangi is the founding document of New Zealand. It was signed between Maori and the British Crown on February 6, 1840 at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands. The Treaty was signed by local chiefs then copies taken throughout New Zealand for more than 500 chiefs to sign. However, there were two versions: one English, the other Maori, and they did not always say or promise the same things.

It promised Maori possession and control (rangatiratanga) of all their lands and resources, such as forests, fisheries and taonga (treasures). No one but the government would be able to buy land from Maori. It also promised Maori the same rights and privileges as British subjects. But while the agreement gave rule over New Zealand to Britain, the interpretation of rule by both parties was different. For Maori, rule meant keeping law and order. The British thought rule meant govern. And despite the Treaty’s intentions, it has often been ignored.

For links to websites with information about Maori language and culture, visit the National Association website: www.esolht.org.nz

ESOL Home Tutors would like to thank the JR McKenzie Trust and the Lottery Grants Board for their support in producing this resource.

© 2004 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ESOL HOME TUTOR SCHEMES (INC). PO Box 12-114, Wellington 6038, New Zealand. Ph 64-4 471 2382, Fax 64-4 471 2383, Email: natoffice@esolht.org.nz